Warren, Michigan-based furniture and mattress retailer Art Van Furniture has named Neil Zimmer vice president of merchandising for its sleep shop chain Art Van PureSleep.
Neil Zimmer
In the newly created position, Zimmer is responsible for overseeing all buying and merchandising activities, and he manages the company’s buyers and support teams. He reports to David Van Elslander, president of Art Van PureSleep.
Zimmer joins Art Van PureSleep from retailer Sleepy’s, which was acquired by Mattress Firm earlier this year. At Sleepy’s he served as vice president and general merchandise manager, playing an instrumental role in product and business development, as well as in the growth of the retailer to more than 1,000 stores. Zimmer began his career in 1993 by launching his own futon and mattress business with five locations, which he operated for 10 years before taking on a merchandise and operations analyst role with Fortunoff, an upscale department store.
“We welcome Neil with an eye toward growth,” Van Elslander said. “Neil’s reputation as a creative and strategic leader, coupled with his specialized expertise and proven track record in the retail bedding space, will add the needed horsepower to help us expedite our already aggressive growth plan.”
Art Van PureSleep has 46 free-standing and 56 in-store locations. Among the brands the store carries are King Koil, Kingsdown, Reverie, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Stearns & Foster, and Tempur-Pedic, as well as Sleep 37.5 top-of-bed accessories.
